Aug
The Art and Chemistry of Perfume
Perfume has been a staple of the luxury for almost all of recorded human history. One of the oldest forms of chemistry, perfume body chemistry creation has long been an in-demand field, with the elite pursuing new and exciting new combinations. The production of perfume is appropriately a chemistry-based profession, and the elaborate knowledge required for this field has been built up slowly over thousands of years.
Aromatic oils from thousands of natural and synthetic sources are combined with artistry to come up with interesting and enjoyable combinations. Oils comprise the three notes of the perfume and represent about 25% of the total volume of the perfume. These three notes are selected to create the aromatic experience that you have come to expect from perfume when the oils that comprise them evaporate.
The Three Notes of a Perfume
The three notes, the top note, the heart note, and the base note, are comprised of various oils selected from an abundance of natural and synthetic oils. The term note is used to describe the scent given off by the oil selected. The oils vary in their physical properties allowing them to express themselves at different times after they were applied. Rather than all of the scents merging into one super scent, the three notes allow the perfume to express different characteristics at different times. This allows for perfume producers to give us an evolving experience while wearing their perfume, preventing us and those around us from becoming bored and nose blind to the scent we are wearing.
The first note, the top note is the fragrance that first expresses itself as a perfume is applied. The top note is composed of the most volatile and aromatic of the oils selected for the perfume. The scent that the top note expresses will quickly dissipate as the oil evaporates, however, for the first fifteen minutes, the top note will be the scent most expressed. The scents selected for the top note are often the most intense, making use of spicy or unexpected smells to capture the attention of the wearer, and those around them. This scent is attention-grabbing and makes a bold statement, forcing you to pay attention as it expresses itself. That being said it will quickly fade away and give way to the scent of the next note in line.
The heart note picks up as the top note begins to fade away. The heart note is comprised of less aromatic oils than the top note, and as such when it begins to evaporate and give off its scent, the top note has mostly dissipated away. These scents will hang around longer and as expected these scents are the more pleasant and flowery scents. For up to four hours after the perfume is applied, the heart note will continue to express itself, and it is this scent that will give off the most pleasant aroma that we are seeking when applying perfume. When we try and remember what a certain perfume smells like, it is often the heart note that we most associate with the memory.
Long after the top note has faded, and after the moderately clingy heart note has had its time, the base note will finally take over. Much as a new instrument moves to center stage, the bass note is the final note of perfume and provides yet another change in the scent given off. The oils that form the base note are the smell that defines the entirety of the perfume and hints of it will be noticeable the entire time that the perfume is worn. The scents selected for the base note are often more earthy, mossy, or wood-like. This is the scent that will last the longest and will last for up to eight hours after the perfume is applied.
Dilution and the Remainder of the Perfume
It is important to note that the oils in the three notes are diluted within the perfume mixture. If they were to be pure rather than diluted, the scent would be overwhelming. Perfume is diluted using alcohol or distilled water to reduce both the aromatic expression, as well as to help it to spread around more effectively while being applied.
The water or alcohol contained in your perfume will evaporate extremely quickly compared to the oils that form the three notes. That is why perfume may feel wet momentarily when it is applied, however, before long it will feel almost as dry as before. There may be a slight oiliness where the perfume was applied, however, that patch of oil is the beginning of the three notes expressing themselves.
When it Comes to Perfume, Evaporation is the Key
Everything about perfume comes down to evaporation. Without the oils evaporating, we wouldn’t be able to smell the wonderful scents that perfumes bring into our lives. With thousands of varieties and scents available to add a splash of variety to our lives, perfume gives us just another aspect that we can use to express ourselves and who we are. Your favorite perfumes are the result of thousands of years of chemists learning and collaborating to combine the variety of scents found in our world in new and exciting ways.
Follow Us
